Her Last Memory

While her crew at home was mostly made up of boys, she still had a few close girlfriends. Kanani had sent her a couple of postcards, and Serene had sent Kanani a longish letter back. They'd talked on the phone a few times, but long-distance calls were expensive. What it really came down to was Serene missed female companionship. Most of the girls she'd met or observed in Culver City were not the type she could draw a breath of interest in. Back home, Serene had lived in the same valley as Kanani, their houses no more than a ten-minute walk from each other. Kanani's household was chaotic and crowded with four other siblings and always a cousin or two staying for a month or a year. So Kanani hung out at Serene's, often marveling over Serene's weird hippy parents and making her laugh with her dry humor and sharp cracks, usually at Darpan's expense. On Maui Serene had freedom. Someone was always going to the beach––a parent, an uncle, an aunt, an older brother or sister. Most everyone had pickup trucks. Kids would pile in the back, wind whipping their hair as they sped along Hana Highway to Ho’okipa or Baldwin Beach, typically, or even just to Twin Falls, a short ride away. Here in LA, Serene felt cooped up. She glanced at her house and thought about bailing on Taylor and Julie. However, spending the day at home seemed equally unappealing. She could always skate… maybe Dylan would want to go to the courthouse with her.

Steve came bursting out of the house, dressed similarly to Serene, a look of relief washing over his features when he saw she was still there. As he bounded down the steps, his dad Ron, poked his head out the door and then stepped out.

"Be back by four," he said. "We have dinner plans at the Schwartzes’." His dark eyes swept over them and lingered on Serene, lips tightening slightly.

"Hi, Mr. Bates," Taylor called out, waving as she bounced on her toes. Ron's face softened and he waved back.

"Hi, nice to see you, Taylor."

"Likewise. We'll have him back on time."

"Alright, you kids have fun."

"Bye, Dad," Steve said and got into the backseat of Julie's car. When Serene went to get in alongside him, Taylor gave a little laugh.

"Do you mind? I'd like to sit next to my boyfriend." Her tone was sugary with a hint of an edge.

"Oh. I just thought because you were already upfront," Serene said as Taylor nudged her out of the way and slipped in.

"No worries." She beamed a smile and then shut the door. Through the window, Serene watched Taylor nuzzle the top of her head under Steve's chin. His green eyes caught hers for a moment before she turned away to climb in the front. Julie's car smelled of air freshener, lip balm and Hawaiian Tropic.

Taylor lived ten minutes away at Green Valley Circle. When Julie parked, Serene thought they would all just wait while Taylor ran in to grab her swimsuit, but Taylor told them to come on up to her apartment. It was going to take a few minutes because her mom was home and apparently lonely, especially since her dad had recently left them. Serene thought this was too much information, Taylor's personal life none of their business, but wordlessly she followed the other three through the secured entryway and into an elevator that took them up to the third floor and opened on a long dreary hallway. They waited while Taylor fumbled in her purse for her keys. The first thing Serene noticed when Taylor opened the door was how tacky her place was. The living room had too much furniture competing for real estate on the generic brown carpet. A leopard print sofa took up half the space. The rest of the square footage was swallowed up by two god-awful pink sequined gilt chairs and a massive antique varnished coffee table. Framed photographs littered the walls to the point of creating a stifled claustrophobic feeling. The four of them could barely get through the living room, squeezing past the furniture. Serene realized she had Taylor pegged wrong. She wasn't rich, just pretending to be. Taylor sashayed her way through the narrow gap of space, a look of pride having settled on her heart-shaped features.

"Mom!" She yelled and turned to grin at them.

"In the kitchen," her mom yelled back and then came out, all smiles and sexiness, her clothing matching Taylor's. Abby Davis had feathered her hair like her daughter's, and it was dyed blond, the roots a light brown. Her tank top showed off a belly that once knew pregnancy and now contained itself to a small doughy ball of fat hinting at occasional indulgence. Her long legs were just beginning to crater with the dreaded cellulite that covers of supermarket magazines were forever zeroing in on. The sort of picture where you just saw the legs and the caption read, “Guess Who This Is?” Abby had the same heart-shaped face as her daughter and brown eyes instead of blue. She wore the same pink lipgloss.

"Hi," she said. Her eyes jumped with delight from one to the next of them. "I didn't know you were having your friends over. I would have put out some snacks or something."

"We just came up for a minute," Taylor said with a wink and a little smile. "I need to get my suit. We're going to the beach."

"Good idea," her mother said. "It’s a great beach day."

"Mwah," Taylor puckered her lips at her mom, making the kissing noise, and her mom returned the gesture. Serene thought Taylor's mom seemed far from lonely or sad. And then it struck her as Taylor left them, skirting around her furniture. She'd brought them up here to show off. Taylor wanted Serene to see what a cool young-looking mom she had. Abby hugged and kissed Julie and Steve like they were all peers and complimented Julie on her nails.

"Thank